USA Holiday 3, October 15 (Bring The Train)

The forecast was for more rain again *all* day, but I set off hoping for the best anyway. Had a quick look around the Seattle Centre - the Pacific Science Center which had some towers out front that looked like the Striders from Half Life 2, the International Fountain which wasn't even turned on, and the Key Arena - former home of the former Seattle Sonics.

Not a suitable NBA venue apparently.

The International Fountain.

The EMP and Space Needle.

Down towards the waterfront was the Olympic Sculpture Park. I thought it was just going to be that red eagle thing in a park, but there was quite a few other pieces there too - like with most art, some of them were things I could have created myself.

A metal tree.

No idea what this is.

This almost resembles a metal eagle?

Passed through downtown again, I stopped in at a t-shirt store where I found a great Seahawks shirt but then had the following conversation with the Asian girl who was working there.

Me: Do you have this one in any other sizes? *Leaf through shirts to indicate they are all small*
Girl: Yeah we have sizes...
Me: *Confused* The only ones you have here are small
Girl: Oh, what size are you after?
Me: A medium or a large would do
Girl: No I don't think we have those

So that was really sad as it was the only good shirt I found to buy. Also had a look in the downtown Target but they didn't have anything good. On a side note, it seems like Target was just starting some national takeover plan, as they had massive stores just opening in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles downtown areas.

Kept on walking over to the Chinatown International District. They have this place called Uwajimaya Village which has a big Chinese supermarket and a bunch of other Asian food shops and bakeries. It was just like being in Box Hill. There was a pinball museum in Chinatown of all places, but it just seemed to be a small store with a bunch of pinball machines that you could play all day for $10. Not sure what I was expecting, but I wouldn't really call that a museum so didn't go in - I don't think I could spend hours playing pinball even if I had the time.

Found an interesting looking Thai Cafe also in Chinatown for lunch, they had a CURRY TOFU OF THE DAY on the menu, but the option for today was spicy so I half enjoyed it and half tried not to die of spice overload. Had a quick look through the Danny Woo International District Community Garden on the way back, which was a little bit run down and more of a community garden than a well preserved Chinese garden, but I guess the name suggests as much.

There's a Chinese garden inside there somewhere.

The reward when you reach the top, a hangout for homeless people. Cool.

Hopped on the monorail which runs from the centre of downtown out to the Seattle Centre. It only takes a couple of minutes, so it's a fun ride but ultimately does not really achieve a lot for the residents of the city I imagine. At the Seattle Centre I got tickets for the Experience Music Project. There was less than 3 hours before closing but the woman estimated that I could see everything in 1.5 to 2 hours.

13:55 - I can't wait for this.

14:06 - Here it comes!

14:09 - Are we there yet?

Well, I spent nearly 1.5 hours just walking through the Nirvana exhibit and reading through all of their history and old Kurt Cobain stuff, it was really good. Only spent a couple of minutes in the Guitar Gallery because I don't really care about old guitars.

Skip ahead if you don't like Nirvana.

Kurt,

Old Kurt "Pen Chap Chew" stuff.

Other Nirvana people.

Familiar Nirvana people.

Down in the basement level there was some non-music related stuff, the Icons Of Science Fiction and The Lure Of Horror Film exhibits. Both of these weren't as detailed as Nirvana but they had a lot of rare props used in science fiction and horror films. I think my favourite was either the hacksaw from Saw or the axe from The Shining. Most of this stuff comes from Paul Allen's (Microsoft guy) private collection by the way.

Battlestar Galactica, I don't think anyone watched it.

Yoda gear.

The man of steel.

T2.

A dalek maybe, I don't know this stuff.

This stuff I know more about.

Although I've never seen an Alien movie...

It's the cane from Citizen Kane.

Heeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny.

I gave you back the map!

Upstairs there was a sound lab which I thought was pretty crap at first until I realised the instruments had little mini games where you could learn each of them. I only had a quick shot on the drums as it was getting close to closing time, but it was enough to know I am not likely to become a professional musician. You could have spent a couple of hours in this room too, they had a bunch of other stuff like DJ turntables, guitars, keyboard and vocals.

Spent the last few minutes taking a look at some Rolling Stones 1972 tour photograph collection and some Jimi Hendrix exhibit. They both were pretty average.

Walked down to the supermarket and got caught in the forecasted heavy rain that finally arrived on the way back to the hotel. The only thing worse than squeaky shoes is wet squeaky shoes. They sound and feel even worse.